Efforts are being made to forge unity among the various Kapu splinter groups in the State. As many as 73 Kapu associations have been brought together to form the ‘Ikya Kapunadu’ under the leadership of Ramachandrapuram MLA Thota Trimurthulu.
The Kapu community, despite its numerical strength, has been playing second fiddle in the politics of the State primarily due to the lack of unity among leaders, Ikya Kapunadu leaders feel.
Twenty-five years ago Kapus came together to extend support to a few of their clansmen, who were reportedly being harassed by then Telugu Desam Government. The turnout for the Kapunadu organised by then Congress MLA, Vangveeti Mohana Ranga Rao, who was subsequently killed, came as a surprise to all.
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The TDP lost power in 1989 and many Congress leaders openly acknowledged that the Congress owed its return to power to Ranga. The ninth Assembly saw the rule of three Chief Ministers – Marri Chenna Reddy, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy and Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy.
With Vijayabhaskara Reddy lending support, the demand of Kapus and other sub-castes like Telaga, Balija and Ontari for inclusion in the Backward Class list gathered momentum.
The proposal was included in the party’s manifesto in 1994, but the Telugu Desam came back to power that year.
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In the absence of proper leadership, matinee idol K. Chiranjeevi has emerged as a leader of the community. The Ikya Kapunadu is now mobilising the Kapu leadership for the silver jubilee celebrations of the Kapunadu to be held here on July 10. All Kapu Ministers, including PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana, are likely to attend the meeting. However, Union Minister Chiranjeevi will not be present.